The Hancock American Legion baseball team swept a double-header from the Channing Railroaders in Mid-Pen league play on Sunday in Channing.
Hancock won the first game 11-7 and then completed the sweep with a 12-1 win in a five-inning mercy-rule shortened game. With the wins the Hancock squad has a 10-game winning streak and moves to 13-3 in league play, tied with the Marquette Blues for first place in the North division.
In game one Hancock jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the top of the first and was looking to cruise to an easy win. However, Channing responded with seven runs on just two hits in their half of the inning to get back in the game. Hancock took the lead back in the second and the game was never in question from that point on.
Luke Paul picked up the win on the mound, going the distance and allowing two earned runs on eight hits, while striking out a season-high 15 batters. Leading Hancock's offensive attack was Tyler LaDuron who had two hits, including a towering home run over the left field fence. Travis Tollefson added two RBIs and scored three runs, and Darren Bausano had a pair of hits.
In the second game Hancock rolled to an easy 12-1 win behind the pitching and hitting of Zach Hill. Hill pitched five innings without allowing an earned run and gave up just three hits and struck out six Channing batters. To help his own cause on the mound he drove in four runs on three hits. Also providing offense was Mike Saari with three RBIs and Beau Dupuis with two.
North Division-leading Hancock (25-5) is off until next Sunday when they travel to Gladstone (24-7) in a key match-up with the South Division leading Indians.